Casablanca's attraction is its cosmopolitan modernity (what sets it apart from any other Moroccan city), and is perhaps best appreciated at the end of your Moroccan travels. This is a city where people come to work and make money, and it's this big-city atmosphere that is best absorbed through a stroll around the city center or along boulevard de la Corniche in the beachside suburb of Aïn Diab. Complementing these nontraditional sightseeing options is the impressive Hassan II Mosque, which also breaks with Moroccan tradition by allowing entrance to non-Muslims, and Casablanca's Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only one of its kind in the entire Islamic world.
If you only have a few hours to spare and would like to see as much as possible without the strain of navigating the city center's streets, consider a half-day city tour offered by Mustapha Bouamara's Vendôme Transport Touristique (tel. 0522/277619 or 0662/509741; fax 0522/473999; vendome_tt@yahoo.com). For 450dh per person, English-speaking Mustapha and his friendly drivers -- they all hail from the same Berber village in the Anti-Atlas -- can squeeze in all the sights, and can include transport to/from the airport should you need it.
For Kids -- Morocco's biggest city is not particularly child-friendly, with plenty of traffic, noise, hustle, and bustle. To the southwest of the city center, about a 10-minute walk from place des Nations Unies, is the Parc de la Ligue Arabe. Casa's "Central Park" has plenty of grassed and shaded areas for little ones to run around and play. There's also a string of cafes and Parc des Jeux Yasmina, a small amusement park with fairground rides. The grounds are always open, while Yasmina is open daily from 11am to 7pm, with a nominal charge of 5dh per child. For a special treat, Stella, on the corner of rue Mohammed el Qorri and rue Houmane el Fetouaki (opposite Laitière Fadl Allah), is one of the city's most popular ice-cream vendors. Around 30 different flavors are always available, ready to be sloshed into freshly made waffle cones. It's open daily from 10am to 10pm. Another good option for the day is to head out to the beach suburb of Aïn Diab, where there's a choice of beach clubs with various sporting facilities and swimming pools. Along the beachside promenade, there are plenty of places to eat lunch or grab an ice cream, including a McDonald's.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
